Double dissolution
A double dissolution occurs when both the Senate and the House of Representatives are shut down so a federal election can take place. This fact sheet explores how double dissolutions are used in the Australian Parliament and joint sittings.
What will I learn?
- A double dissolution occurs when the Governor General, on the advice of the Prime Minister, shuts down both the Senate and the House of Representatives for an election to take place
- Section 57 of the Australian Constitution details the conditions for a double dissolution.
What is a double dissolution?
A double dissolution occurs when the Governor General, on the advice of the Prime Minister, dissolves – shuts down – both the Senate and House of Representatives for an election to take place. A double dissolution only happens when there is a deadlock between the Senate and the House of Representatives on a proposed law. A double dissolution is the only time all senator’s stand for election at the same time.
In the Australian Constitution, the Senate and House have almost identical powers and a bill must be agreed to by both to become law. If the Senate twice rejects a bill that starts in the House of Representatives, Parliament can be dissolved for an election to be held to let voters decide on the outcome.
Procedure
Section 57 of the Australian Constitution details the triggers – conditions – for a double dissolution:
- The House of Representatives passes a bill and sends it to the Senate.
- The Senate rejects or fails to pass the bill, or passes it with amendments – changes – that the House will not agree to.
- Three months pass from when the Senate disagrees with the bill.
- The House passes the same bill and sends it to the Senate again.
- The Senate again rejects or fails to pass the bill, or passes the same bill with amendments to which the House will not agree.
Once these conditions have been met, the Prime Minister can recommend to the Governor-General that a double dissolution of the Parliament take place. A federal election will then be held to elect all members of parliament.
Double dissolution trigger
Parliamentary Education Office (peo.gov.au)
Double dissolution trigger
Parliamentary Education Office (peo.gov.au)
Description
A graphic illustrating the process for a double dissolution:
- Bill passes in the House of Representatives
- Bill fails to pass in the Senate
- Three months goes by
- Bill passes in the House of Representatives
- Bill fails to pass in the Senate
- Double dissolution can be requested
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More than one bill can act as a trigger for a double dissolution.
A double dissolution cannot take place within 6 months of the end of a 3-year term of the House.
Joint sitting of Parliament
Joint sitting of the Australian Parliament, 1974.
DPS Auspic
Joint sitting of the Australian Parliament, 1974.
DPS Auspic
Description
This black and white photo is of a large room with tall ceilings. The seats are arranged in a horse-shoe shape around a large central table. There is a large chair at the open end of the U-shaped seats that is elevated above the other chairs. There are people sitting in the seats and papers on the desks. People are sitting and standing in the raised balconies around the sides of the room.
Copyright information
Permission should be sought from DPS AUSPIC for third-party or commercial uses of this image. To contact DPS AUSPIC email: auspic@aph.gov.au or phone: 02 6277 3342.
Joint sitting of the Australian Parliament, 1974.
DPS Auspic
Joint sitting of the Australian Parliament, 1974.
DPS Auspic
Description
This black and white photo is of a large room with tall ceilings. The seats are arranged in a horse-shoe shape around a large central table. There is a large chair at the open end of the U-shaped seats that is elevated above the other chairs. There are people sitting in the seats and papers on the desks. People are sitting and standing in the raised balconies around the sides of the room.
Copyright information
Permission should be sought from DPS AUSPIC for third-party or commercial uses of this image. To contact DPS AUSPIC email: auspic@aph.gov.au or phone: 02 6277 3342.
After a double dissolution election, the bill or bills that triggered the double dissolution may be introduced into Parliament again. If a deadlock happens between the Senate and House again, the Governor-General may call a joint sitting of all senators and members of the House of Representatives to vote on the bill or bills.
There has only been one joint sitting of the Australian Parliament. In 1974, the 6 bills that had triggered a double dissolution were reintroduced into Parliament and again rejected by the Senate. At the joint sitting, the government members all voted together and all 6 bills were passed.
History
There have been 7 double dissolutions of the Australian Parliament: 1914, 1951, 1974, 1975, 1983, 1987 and 2016. In 1914, 1975 and 1983, the government lost the election that resulted from the double dissolution. The most famous double dissolution occurred in 1975. Prime Minister Gough Whitlam did not want a double dissolution election; however, Governor-General Sir John Kerr dismissed the government and, on advice of caretaker Prime Minister Malcom Fraser, the Governor-General dissolved Parliament.